Eremo della Giubiliana

It’s not all farm houses and olive groves. Near the south coast of Sicily, housed in a medieval-era convent once occupied by the Knights of Malta, lies the Eremo della Giubiliana, a remarkably posh boutique hotel hidden away within an imposing fortified exterior. These stone walls still look up to the task of repelling an invading force, but inside it’s elegant and sophisticated in a way that one doesn’t often expect from rustic, rugged Sicily.

Of course defeating expectations is half the game in the better sort of hotel. The feeling is reminiscent of Morocco in the oasis-like atmosphere of the compound’s interior. It’s quite normal to see minimalist modern furniture against the background of this kind of stark stone architecture, less common to see the Eremo’s refined, almost baroque pieces.

Five miles from the town of Ragusa, it’s a self-contained escape. A restaurant, a bar, and a wine cellar in an old crypt are there to see to guests’ immediate needs, and a swimming pool keeps things from getting too warm. Spa treatments are offered with a view of a bona fide archaeological site. And despite the general air of understatement, the Eremo is unmistakably upscale — the neighboring Ragusa-Giubiliana airfield accommodates guests arriving via private plane.